The custom of wakes to return to how they were before the pandemic - undertaker

The tradition of wakes may be changing in other areas throughout the country but the tradition will return to the way it was before the pandemic, according to a well known undertaker. 

Charlie McClafferty has worked as an undertaker for over three decades. He has been present when people from across Churchill and Letterkenny have lost a loved one - at times, the most difficult time of their lives. 

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The pandemic changed the normal course of wakes. Extended family, friends and neighbours couldn't call to the homes of those who had lost a loved one. In efforts to show their remorse and respect they stood in a line on roadsides as the funeral cortége passed them by. 

People told Charlie that they like the new tradition as they feel they have paid their respect in some way to their neighbours. Farmers can leave their fields, shopkeepers can step outside - and feel they paid their respect to neighbours. 

This tradition is one that Charlie hopes will hold fast. On a visit to Dublin recently, Charlie was touched by a tradition of people leaving a candle outside the driveway of their homes as a mark of respect to those who have passed away.  

Charlie also appreciates the value that people derive from the tradition of wakes: “Wakes are part of our culture. I can see wakes returning to the way they were in Donegal because it is important.”

He said that during wakes neighbours don the high-viz jackets and help park cars, they come in and make tea, they call with scones and trays, tend to animals and help support their neighbours and family at a time when they are feeling at their lowest. 

He said that people may decide to make the removal from a funeral home private in the future as it gives the family more time to prepare for the difficult days ahead.

Charlie has been working as an undertaker since he was 16 years of age and over the last two years has seen funerals change considerably. He has also seen people have to cope with hardships never before witnessed where people could not see or say goodbye to those they love - these people had to return to empty homes where they had to grieve alone without the customary companionship and compassion of wakes and, indeed, funerals. 

He feels that those who were faced with this hardship ought to be given bereavement counselling after having lost a loved one to Covid-19 and not having seen them. 

“People need to be given bereavement counselling after having lost a loved one through Covid-19 and didn’t get to see them. I would ask that perhaps that groups be set up to help people cope with their loss because that was tough on a lot of people,” he said. 

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